Directorate of panchayats has received resignation letters of Marcaim sarpanch Shailendra Panjikar and a panch Manoj Naik on October 9. However, both have denied sending any such letter.

Sources informed that directorate of panchayats did receive a letter from Manoj Naik with inward number 12500 and Panjikar with inward number 12501.

When contacted, Narayan Sawant, director of panchayats, said that they have received the letters, however letters sent through post are considered “invalid”.

“To maintain transparency in the process, we have adopted a system wherein the panch members have to come in person at the directorate and sign before the director. These letters sent through post are invalid,” Sawant said.

Panjikar, who was shocked to know about the letter, said that he never wrote any resignation letter to the director. “Someone has done this purposely to put us in trouble. This is clearly politically motivated. I will definitely lodge a forgery case against the person who has done this,” Panjikar said.

“If they (one who has sent the letter) can send bogus resignation letter in my name, then they can also adopt other strategy to defame me. They need to be arrested; I will lodge a police complaint,” Panjikar said.

Manoj Naik also denied having sending resignation letter to the director of panchayats and expressed surprised over it.